It’s difficult to keep up with what’s happening at Maboneng Precinct in the eastern Inner City of Joburg

In 2008 Managing Diretctor and developer Jonathan Liebmann purchased the old DF Corlett Construction offices and warehouses and worked with architect Enrico Daffonchio on converting them into the space that is now Arts on Main – a mix of galleries, [Goodman Gallery, David Krut, Seipel, Goethe Institut] private artist studios, [Kentridge, Leiberman, amongst others] advertising agencies and retail spaces. The company’s next major development was Main Street Life, which transformed a 1970s industrial building into a mixed-use complex with studio, 2-bed apartments and penthouses. Features include creative workspaces, retail shops and a restaurant, independent cinema, a rooftop events venue and a boutique hotel. The ’12 Decades Johannesburg Art Hotel’ is situated on the top floor of Main Street Life and consists of 12 rooms conceptualized by some of South Africa’s most celebrated artists and designers to represent the past 12 Decades of Johannesburg’s History.

Arts on Main and Main Street Life all form part of the development of the ‘Maboneng Precinct’ and the latest addition is Revolution House which will provide larger open plan residential spaces as well as commercial spaces including band rehearsal rooms and film studios. For the months of June and July, Maboneng Precinct is offering these spaces for free for shoots, rehearsals and recordings so that they can get public feedback – great initiative.

Upcoming Events

“Circle” starring Tau Masermule at POPArt 8- 12 June 2011, at 7: 30pm After sell out performances around the country, Tau Masermule is bringing his one man show “Circle” to POPArt. “Circle” follows the life of a young man, Michael. It is deep yet comical and promises to be a brilliant evening’s entertainment.Encounters Documentary Film Festival 10- 16 June 2011After a very successful 2010 festival, The Bioscope is proud to welcome back Encounters in 2011. The festival will run from the 10th to the 26th June, with all screenings taking place at 8pm. Download the full program on www.thebioscope.co.za

One Comment

Iam an artist from Zimbabwe and was really excited to read about Arts on Main in in a travel magazine1 I do oil on canvas paintings and have always sold in Durban, and more recently in Zambia. I have been trying to get contact details for Jonothan Liebmann to e mail some images to him. Could this message possibly be passed on to him. If you can let me have an e mail address I can send some images. I will be in Jhb next weekend and would really love tto come and have a look. Many thanks